St Margarets Circular walk

This walk leads along ancient tracks and green lanes through some very quiet, rolling East Hertfordshire countryside defined by wheat fields and woods, in-between extensive stretches along the Ash, Rib and Lea rivers. Cold Christmas hamlet and a haunted, ruined church are passed just before lunch in Wadesmill.
Long parts of the afternoon route are spent in the quiet scenic Ash valley, before passing through Amwell Nature Reserve, a bird watcher’s paradise. The final stretch leads along the Lea Navigation back to St. Margarets.

Stile Count: 2; Arable Field Crossings: 330 metres.

A considerably shorter version with lunch in Wareside is possible.

Saturday Walkers' Club: Take the train closest to 9.45 hours, if walking the full walk, and the one closest to 10.15 hours for the shortest version.

Shortcut I cuts out the outer loop of this walk to leave an hourglass-shaped walk of 19.5 km (12.2 mi), while also cutting ascent/descent by 66m, this is rated 3/10.
Shortcut II cuts out 1.6 km (1.0 mi) and 12m ascent/descent from the main walk, around lunch (5/10).
Buses to Ware or Hertford train stations (one or two stops further from London on the same line) are available from the lunch pubs in Wadesmill (Mon-Sat only) and Wareside (Mon-Fri only).

Long Walk
The Anchor Cambridge Road, Wadesmill, Herts, SG12 0TD (01920 462 861). The Anchor is located 10.8 km (6.7 mi) into the main walk. Open noon to late every day. Food served all day every day. The listed building is steeped in traditional charm, and has generous outdoor seating (though close to a busy road), plus lots of nooks and crannies as well as larger seating areas inside. A Marston’s pub.
The Feathers Inn 49 Cambridge Road, Wadesmill, Herts, SG12 0TN (01920 462 606). Open daily 11.00-23.00. Food served daily 11.00-22.00. The Feathers Inn and Hotel is located 10.9 km (6.8 mi) into the main walk. It was originally a 17th century coaching inn, in the early 1600s the inn was called The Princes’ Arms and had been owned by various blacksmiths and tanners. In 1670 the name was changed to 'The Feathers'. It subsequently became one of the busiest coaching inns in the area, stabling over 100 horses. Documents of the period mention five bedrooms, a step parlour, moon parlour, lion parlour and various other rooms.

Short Walk
The White Horse Ware Road, Wareside, Ware, Herts, SG12 7QX (01920 464 433). Open Tue-Thu 12.00-15.00 and 17.00-23.00, 12.00-24.00 Fri-Sat and 12.00-22.00 Sun. The White Horse is located 12.9 km (8.0 mi) into the shortcut version of the walk and 6.7 km (4.1 mi) from the end of all walk options.
Chequers Inn Ware Road, Wareside, Ware, Herts, SG12 7QY (01920 467 010). Open Mon-Sat 12.00-14.00 and 18.00-23.00, Sun 12.00-16.00 and 18.00-22.30. Food served Mon-Sun 12.00-14.00 and 18.00-21.00. The Chequers Inn is located 12.9 km (8.0 mi) into the shortcut version of the walk and 6.7 km (4.1 mi) from the end of all walk options.

The Jolly Fisherman 8 Station Road, Stanstead St. Margarets, Ware, Herts, SG12 8DH (01920 870 125). Open Mon-Sat 11.00-23.00, Sun 12.00-22.30. Food served Mon-Sat 12.00-21.30 and Sun 12.00-20.30. A McMullen’s pub with outdoor seating by the Lea Navigation.
The Oak 36 High Street, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, Herts, SG12 8AG (01920 877 294). Open Mon-Sat 12.00-23.00 and Sun 12.00-22.00. The Oak is a village pub and dining rooms, specialising in artisan pizze.
The Red Lion 1 High Street, Stanstead Abbots, Ware, Herts, SG12 8AA (01920 410 056). Open daily to 23.00, Fri-Sat to 24.00. Dinner served Wed-Sat 18.30-21.30. Built in 1538, The Red Lion is one of the oldest buildings in the area and the second oldest in Stanstead Abbotts.

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Start SG12 8DS Map Directions

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Travelline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jun-20 Thomas G